Xanatos (Star Wars)
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Xanatos is a fictional character from the Star Wars Expanded Universe.
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[edit] Biography
Xanatos was a former apprentice of Qui-Gon Jinn, who chose him because of his great potential. Qui-Gon persuaded Xanatos' father Crion to let him train the young boy, and so, at an early age, Xanatos was taken away from the two things he loved most: his father, and his home planet of Telos.
As a youngling at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, Xanatos learned quickly. He was the best lightsaber duelist among the younglings, and was their de facto leader, although his aggressiveness and penchant for psychological trickery worried his teachers. When Xanatos' time had come to perform his Jedi trials, he passed with flying colors.
[edit] The last test
But for some reason, Yoda was not convinced Xanatos was ready to become a Knight, and said simply: "One more test." In this last test, he was taken back to Telos, ostensibly to investigate disturbances there with Qui-Gon, but really to see the riches he had given up to become a Jedi. The disturbances turned out to be the work of Crion, who was instigating a civil war. This was Xanatos' final test: to choose between the thankless, ascetic lifestyle the Jedi Order offered, or to join his father, enjoy fantastic wealth, and channel his aggression into war and governance. During his indecision, he witnessed Qui-Gon killing his father after Crion turned to the dark side. Discovering his father's corruption and punishment for his transgressions, and accepting this fact, also may have been the true trial he had been meant to face. Xanatos chose his father after it was too late, vowing revenge on the Jedi as he picked up his father's burning ring and pressed it to his cheek. The half-circle scar became his trademark and logo for his mining corporation Offworld and all his later works. Xanatos assaulted Qui-Gon and lost decisively. Qui-Gon had mercy on his former apprentice and spared his life.
[edit] Jedi foe
Xanatos would stir up trouble for Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan Kenobi (before Obi-Wan became Qui-Gon's official Padawan) in the Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice series of books. Xanatos once planted a bomb in the Jedi Temple's Room of a Thousand Fountains, almost killing many major Jedi including Qui-Gon Jinn, Yoda, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Plo Koon, Adi Gallia, Saesee Tiin, Eeth Koth, Even Piell, Kit Fisto, Luminara Unduli, Aayla Secura, Shaak Ti, Stass Allie, Pablo-Jill, Coleman Trebor, Oppo Rancisis, Yarael Poof, Yaddle, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. He tainted Bruck Chun, Obi-Wan's rival, and turned him to the dark side. Bruck helped Xanatos set up assassinations for Jedi. Xanatos almost caused a turbolift to fall, which would have killed a Jedi and several children. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon successfully evacuated the lift before anyone could be killed.
His last assassination attempt was to sabotage the Temple's fusion furnances with his technological skills, so that it would detonate, killing all within. Xanatos captured Bant in a last attempt to lead the Jedi off his trail, but Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan confronted him. Bruck ran away while Obi-Wan gave chase. Bruck led him to the Room of a Thousand Fountains where Bant was being held in chains underwater. Obi-Wan fought Bruck and Bruck ended up falling from a high ledge and breaking his neck. Obi-Wan then saved Bant and joined his master to chase off Xanatos, who fled back to his home planet, Telos. Qui-Gon followed him there to bring his former Padawan to justice, but rather than being brought under the mercy of his old master, Xanatos killed himself by jumping into a pool of acid, saying to Qui-Gon as he died: "I am your biggest failure. Live with that. And live with this." Xanatos was survived by one child, Granta Omega who appeared in Jude Watson's Jedi Quest series.
[edit] Etymology
The basis for the name of Xanatos is possibly inspired by Thanatos, the Greek god of death.
[edit] References
- The Dark Side sourcebook, Wizards of the Coast, 1st printing, 2001. Bill Slavicsek, J. D. Wiker, ISBN 0-7869-1849-7
- Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice
